Learning some basic Korean words can make navigating the language a lot easier and help you connect more deeply with Korean culture. Whether you’re planning a trip, watching K-dramas, or just getting started with the language, these 65 basic Korean words will come up almost everywhere.
These words are simple yet crucial for learning and using the Korean language. Here, we’ll introduce each term with examples to help you understand their usage and context, so you can start speaking Korean with confidence. Let’s dive in!
사람 (person, human being)
“사람” /sa-ram/ means “person” or “human” in English. Primarily, it refers to an individual human being, but its meaning can vary depending on the context. Here are a few of its main uses:
1. “사람” refers to a human that thinks, uses language, makes and uses tools, and lives in a society, and it is synonymous with “인간.”
- 사람이 그러면 안된다. (A person shouldn’t act like that)
- 사람은 만물의 영장이다. (Humans are the rulers of all living things.)
2. It refers to someone born, living, or who lived in a particular region or time.
- 한국 사람 (Korean)
- 조선시대 사람 (a person who lived during the Joseon Dynasty)
3. It refers to a person’s character or personality.
- 사람이 좋다. (She/he is a good person.)
- 사람이 독하다. (She/he is extremely persistent.)
가족 (family)
- 가족같다는 말에 속지마라. (Don’t be fooled by the phrase “like family.”)
친구 (friend)
- 오래된 친구 (old friend)
사회 (society)
- 사회에 첫발을 내딛다. (Take the first step into society.)
국가 (country, nation)
- 국가의 주인은 국민이다. (The citizens are the owners of the nation.)
세계 (world)
- 세계에서 가장 아름다운 곳 (the most beautiful place in the world)
문화 (culture)
- 한국 문화의 특징 (characteristics of Korean culture)
YouTube Video for Basic Korean Words
Learn the pronunciation of these words by watching this YouTube video.
위 (above, on)
- 핸드폰 책상 위에 있어. (The cell phone is on the desk.)
아래 (below, under)
- 핸드폰 책상 아래에 있어. (The cell phone is under the desk.)
앞 (front)
- 핸드폰 상자 앞에 있네. (The cell phone is in front of the box.)
뒤 (behind, back)
- 핸드폰 상자 뒤에 있네. (The cell phone is behind the box.)
옆 (next to, side)
- 핸드폰 상자 옆에 있네. (The cell phone is next to the box.)
여자 (woman)
- 여자 아이돌 (female idol)
남자 (man)
- 남자 아이돌 (male idol)
엄마 (mom)
- 우리 엄마는 선생님이야. (My mom is a teacher.)
아빠 (dad)
- 우리 아빠는 항상 바빠. (My dad is always busy.)
어머니 (mother)
- 어머니 생신이 내일이다. (My mother’s birthday is tomorrow.)
아버지 (father)
- 아버지께서 아직 식사 중이시다. (My father is still eating.)
주다 (give)
- 빌려간 돈 언제 줄거야? (When will you pay back the money you borrowed?)
받다 (receive)
- 나 어제 보너스 받았어. (I got a bonus yesterday.)
가지다 (have, own)
- 이거 너 가져. (Take this, it’s yours.)
가다 (go)
- 지난 여름 부산에 갔었어. (I went to Busan last summer.)
오다 (come)
- 한국으로 오세요. (Come to South Korea.)
만나다 (meet)
- 널 만난 건 행운이야. (I’m so lucky to have met you.)
크다 (big, large)
- 이 신발은 너무 크겠는데. (These shoes might be too big.)
작다 (small, little)
- 글씨가 너무 작아요. (The text is too small.)
많다 (many, much, a lot)
- 사람이 너무 많다. (There are too many people.)
적다 (few, little)
- 내가 경험이 적어서 그래. (It’s because I have little experience.)
태어나다 (be born)
- 나는 부산에서 태어났어. (I was born in Busan.)
살다 (live)
- 한국에 살아서 좋은 점 (The good things about living in South Korea)
죽다 (die)
- 아끼던 화초가 죽었다. (The plant I cherished has died.)
많다 (many, much, a lot)
- 사람이 너무 많다. (There are too many people.)
적다 (few, little)
- 내가 경험이 적어서 그래. (It’s because I have little experience.)
하다 (do)
“하다” /ha-da/ is one of the most versatile words in Korean. It generally means “to do”, but it can be used in various ways depending on the context. Let’s explore its most common usage first:
1. As a verb, “하다” means that a person, animal, or object carries out an action or activity.
- 나는 어제 운동을 했다. (I exercised yesterday.)
- 이제 어떻게 할 계획이야? (What’s your plan for now?)
2. As a suffix, it attaches to certain nouns to form verbs.
- 생각하다. (to think, 생각+하다)
- 사랑하다. (to love, 사람+하다)
3. As a suffix, it attaches to certain nouns to form adjectives.
- 행복하다. (to be happy, 행복+하다)
- 건강하다. (to be healthy, 건강+하다)
듣다 (listen, hear)
- 우리 엄마도 K-pop 자주 들으셔. (My mom listens to K-pop often, too.)
먹다 (eat)
- 아침 먹었어? (Did you eat breakfast?)
보다 (see, watch, or look at)
“보다” /bo-da/ is a very versatile Korena word with various parts of speech.
1. Let’s learn its the main usage first, which is a verb meaning “to see, watch, or look at.”
- 처음 보는 색깔이다. (It’s a color I’m seeing for the first time. Or, I have never seen this color.)
- 제일 좋아하는 한국 드라마를 보고 있었다. (I was watching my favorite Korean drama.)
In addition to the meaning of “보다” as “to see,” “to watch,” or “to look at,” here are some other common uses of the word.
2. “보다” would mean taking on responsibility for caring for or protecting someone.
- 요새는 아이를 봐 줄 사람을 구하기 힘들다. (These days, it’s hard to find someone to look after the child.)
3. The word would mean experiencing, undergoing, or obtaining something.
- 내 친구는 주식으로 손해를 많이 봤다. (My friend suffered a lot of losses in the stock market.)
4. It could mean tasting a little bit of food to checking the flavor or seasoning.
- 찌개 맛 좀 봐 주세요. (Please taste the stew for me.)
말하다 (say, speak)
- 내가 같이 가자고 말했잖아. (I told you to go with me.)
생각하다 (think)
- 무슨 생각해? (What are you thinking about?)
만들다 (make)
- 애플이 아이폰을 만든다. (Apple makes iPhones.)
있다 (to be)
“있다” /it-dda/ is another highly important and versatile verb, commonly used in everyday language. It generally means “to exist” or “to be,” but its meaning varies depending on context. Here are some of its key uses:
1. “있다” means to exist or to be at a certain location or a place.
- 노트북이 책상 위에 있다. (The laptop is on the desk.)
- 강아지가 집에 있다. (The puppy is at home.)
2. “있다” is also used to express possession, similar to saying “to have” or “to possess” in English.
- 나에게 만원이 있다. (I have 10,000 won.)
- 그녀는 실력이 있다. (She has the skill or ability.)
3. As an auxiliary verb, usually used after a verb in the form of ‘-어 있다’, “있다” indicates that the action or change described by the preceding word has been completed and the resulting state is continuing.
- 아기가 깨어 있다. (The baby is awake.)
- 꽃이 피어 있다. (The flower is in bloom.)
4. As an auxiliary verb, usually used after a verb in the form of ‘-고 있다’), the word indicates that the action described by the preceding word is ongoing or that the result of the action is continuing.
- 주인공이 저녁을 먹고 있다. (The main actor or actress is having dinner.)
- 외국인이 차를 기다리고 있다. (A foreigner is waiting for a car.)
없다 (not exist)
“없다” /eop-dda/ is a versatile verb that generally means “not to exist” or “not to have.” It is the opposite of “있다,” the word explained above. Here are the main usages of “없다”:
1. “없다” indicates that something or someone is not present or doesn’t exist in a particular location.
- 노트북이 책상 위에 없다. (The laptop is not on the desk.)
- 환자가 병실에 없다. (The patient is not in the room.)
2. “없다” also expresses the absence of something a person does not possess.
- 나는 지금 한푼도 없다. (I don’t have a single penny right now.)
- 너는 아직 그럴 실력이 없다. (You don’t have the skills to do that yet.)
3. Another usage of “없다” is to indicate a state where a person, animal, object, or similar does not actually exist.
- 나는 귀신이 없다고 믿는다. (I believe that ghosts don’t exist.)
- 세상에 보라색 소는 없다. (There are no purple cows in the world.)
4. When it is used in the form of ‘-ㄹ(을) 수 없다,’ it indicates a situation where something is not possible.
- 웬만해선 그들을 막을 수 없다. (You can’t stop them easily)
- 그녀는 그 말을 믿을 수 없었다. (She couldn’t believe those words.)
되다 (to become)
“되다” /doe-da/ is a highly versatile verb with multiple meanings depending on the context. Its most common meaning is “to become” or “to turn into,” but it also has several other uses. Let’s learn its two main uses:
1. It refers to changing or transforming into a different state or nature.
- 얼음이 물이 되었다. (Ice became water.)
- 내 모든 계획이 물거품이 돼 버릴지도 모른다. (All my plans might end up going down the drain.)
2. It means reaching a new status or position.
- 모든 학생들이 의사가 되고 싶어한다. (All the students want to become doctors.)
- 그 아이는 아이돌이 되었다. (That child became an idol.)
알다 (know)
- 내가 그 사람을 잘 알아. (I know that person well.)
모르다 (do not know)
- 그 사람이 몇 살인지 몰랐어. (I didn’t know how old that person is.)
나 (I)
1. “나” /na/ is a word to refer to oneself, like “I” in English. It is used when the speaker talks to someone of equal status or someone younger.
- 나는 학생이다. (I am a student.)
- 나의 아저씨 (My Mister)
2. “나” also could mean “not others, but oneself.”
- 우리는 나만의 이익을 생각해선 안 됩니다. (We should not only think about our own benefit.)
- 나보다 남을 먼저 생각하는 사람이 되자. (Let’s be the kind of person who puts others before oneself.)
저 (I)
“저” means “I” just like “나,” but this is used in formal or polite situations, typically when talking to someone older, of higher status, or someone you’re not very close to.
When “저” is followed by the particle “-가”, it changes to “제”.
- 저는 많이 바쁩니다. (I am very busy.)
- 제가 연락드리겠습니다. (I’ll contact you.)
우리 (we)
1. “우리” /u-ri/ primarily translates to “we” in English.
- 우리가 먼저 먹자. (Let’s go ahead and eat (instead of waiting for them.))
- 우리 좀 걸을까? (Shall we walk a bit?)
2. Sometimes it refers to something personal or close to oneself, especially reflecting a strong sense of community and inclusiveness.
- 우리 동네 (my neighborhood)
- 우리 신랑 (MY husband – wouldn’t it be weird, “OUR husband”?)
저희 (we)
“저희” /jeo-hui/ is a humble form of “우리”, meaning “we” in Korean.
It is used to show respect or humility, especially when referring to oneself or one’s group in formal or polite situations. For example, when speaking to someone older, of higher status, or in formal settings, instead of using “우리”, Koreans often use “저희” to be more deferential.
It’s the same with the relationship between “나” and “저.”
- 저희가 들고 갈게요. (We’ll carry it.)
- 저희 집에 한번 오세요. (Please come to our house sometime.)
그 (he/the/that)
1. The first usage of “그” /geu/ is a pronoun.
가. “그” is a third-person pronoun referring to someone who is neither the speaker nor the listener. It refers to a person who has already been mentioned or someone the listener is thinking about. Primarily it refers to a man.
- 그는 이미 그곳에 없었다. (He was no longer there.)
나. “그” is also a pronoun referring to something that has already been mentioned or something the listener is thinking about.
- 그보다는 조금 더 컸다. (It was a bit bigger than that.)
2. The second usage of “그” is a determiner:
가. It refers to something close to the listener or something the listener is thinking about.
- 그 핸드폰 좀 줘 봐. (Give me that phone, please.)
나. “그” refers to something that has already been mentioned.
- 그 영화의 결말은 다음과 같다. (The ending of that movie is as follows.)
다시 (again)
- 다시 사랑한다면… (If I love again…)
더 (more)
- 조금 더 주세요. (Please, give me a little more.)
모든 (all, entire)
- 모든 국민은 법 앞에 평등하다. (All citizens are equal before the law.)
시간 (time)
- 시간이 없다. (I don’t have time.)
때 (when or moment)
“때” /ttae/ refers to a specific point in time or period. It can mean “when,” “time,” “moment,” or “occasion” and is used to indicate a certain timeframe or situation. Here’s how it functions in different contexts:
1. “때” indicates a specific time.
- 아무 때나 와도 괜찮아. (You can come anytime.)
2. The word refers to a good opportunity or the right time.
- 아직은 때가 아니다. (It’s not the right time yet.)
3. It means a certain situation or occasion.
- 가끔 갑자기 배가 고플 때가 있다. (Sometimes, I suddenly get hungry.)
돈 (money)
- 돈도 없다. (I don’t have money, either.)
몸 (body)
- 몸에 좋은 약은 입에 쓰다. (Good medicine for the body tastes bitter.)
얼굴 (face)
- 나는 얼굴을 잘 못 알아본다. (I have trouble recognizing faces.)
않다 (do not or be not)
“않다” /an-ta/ is used after a verb or adjective in the form ‘-지 않다’ to negate the action or state described by the word before it.
- 나는 영화를 보지 않았다. (I didn’t watch the movie.)
- 그런 행동은 옳지 않다. (That kind of behavior is not right.)
아니다 (be not)
“아니다” /a-ni-da/ is a word that denies or negates a fact, statement, or identity.
- 그는 더 이상 야구선수가 아니다. (He is no longer a baseball player.)
- 그건 사랑이 아니야. (That isn’t love.)
집 (house, home)
- 여기가 우리 집이야. (This is my house.)
학교 (school)
- 학교 다녀왔습니다. (I’m home from school.)
같다 (same, equal)
- 우리는 입맛이 같다. (We have the same taste – We like the same food.)
다르다 (different)
- 내 생각은 다르다. (My opinion is different.)
것 (thing)
“것” /geot/ is one of the most common and used Korean words. It is a dependent noun (probably you don’t need to know this) and has multiple usages and meanings.
1. “것” abstractly refers to a thing, object, or phenomenon. This is the most common usage of the word.
- 먹을 것 (something to eat)
- 좋은 것 (something good)
- 고래가 물고기가 아니라는 것은 분명한 사실이다. (It is a clear fact that whales are not fish.)
2. It is used to belittle a person or refer to an animal.
- 새파란 것이 어른에게 대든다. (A young brat dares to talk back to an elder.)
- 오늘 태어난 강아지 중에서 점무늬 있는 것이 제일 예쁘다. (Among the puppies born today, the one with spots is the cutest.)
3. When the word is used after nouns or pronouns referring to people, “것” indicates possession by that person.
- 이 바지는 원래 동생 것이다. (These pants originally belong to the younger sibling.)
- 자꾸 네 것이라고 우기지 마라. (Stop insisting they’re yours.)
4. When it is used as “-는/은 것이다,” it conveys the speaker’s certainty, decision, or determination.
- 규칙적인 운동은 몸에 좋은 것이다. (Regular exercise is good for the body.)
- 그것은 남을 속이는 것이다. (It is deceiving others.)
5. Used in the structure “-ㄹ/을 것이다,” it expresses the speaker’s expectation, assumption, or personal belief.
- 언젠가 반드시 세계일주를 할 것이다. (I will definitely travel around the world someday.)
- 내가 아마 먼저 도착할 것이다. (I will probably arrive first.)
6. Used in the structure “-ㄹ/을 것,” the word indicates a command or instruction, ending the sentence.
- 미끄러우니 주의할 것 (Be careful, it’s slippery.)
- 신발을 벗을 것 (Take off your shoes.)
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